Get to know Singapore’s snakes at Mandai Wildlife Reserve from Jan 28 to Feb 12
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This Chinese New Year, a slew of activities will be rolled out at Mandai Wildlife Reserve's four parks to celebrate the Year of the Snake.
PHOTO: MANDAI WILDLIFE GROUP
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SINGAPORE – Mention the word “snake” and many people tend to either recoil in fear or repulsion.
But with the lunar cycle bringing in the Year of the Snake on Jan 29, Mandai Wildlife Reserve is celebrating these slithering creatures and also the Chinese New Year from Jan 28 to Feb 12.
A slew of activities will be rolled out at Mandai’s four parks. They include keeper talks – where visitors can meet the king cobra at the Singapore Zoo and the green anaconda at River Wonders, as well as the cave racer and carpet python at the Night Safari.
Visitors can also catch these snakes – which swallow prey without chewing – in action during feeding sessions. In order to demystify them, keepers will also share fun facts about these reptiles, such as how the king cobra is the longest venomous snake in the world, while the cave racer has the ability to scale cave walls.
The king cobra is native to Singapore, and preys on other snakes in the wild. Despite its appearance, it is shy and prefers to avoid humans where possible.
PHOTO: MANDAI WILDLIFE GROUP
Ms Joey Yeo, a zookeeper with the Mandai Wildlife Group, said: “The best way to overcome a fear of snakes is to learn about them.”
She conceded that many people tend to have a natural fear of reptiles, especially snakes, often due to misconceptions of them being aggressive and dangerous. “This perception couldn’t be further from the truth,” she said. “Snakes are actually shy creatures that prefer to be left undisturbed.”
She said that with humans living in more integrated environments, there will be more encounters with wildlife. “It’s crucial that we learn about the wildlife we share our spaces with and find ways to coexist,” she added.
At the Night Safari, visitors can observe the cave racer and carpet python interacting with red packets carrying the scent of their prey.
PHOTO: MANDAI WILDLIFE GROUP
At the Singapore Zoo’s RepTopia, there will be close-up encounters with its ambassador snakes, such as the Honduran milk snake. The enchanting serpent has a scaly body of red, black and yellow bands, which mimics the venomous coral snake as a defence mechanism.
For those who wish to test their knowledge on snakes, there will be digital quizzes at the Singapore Zoo and River Wonders. Participants may stand to redeem gifts for added festive cheer.
Other initiatives will also be rolled out at Mandai’s parks, including lion dance performances, a chance to meet the God of Fortune, and zoo-diac prediction displays. The first 188 guests to enter any of Mandai’s parks on selected days may also win an exclusive Mandai Wildlife Reserve zodiac “gold coin”.
During this festive time, local residents with a WildPass digital membership may enjoy 20 per cent off admission to Mandai’s parks. They can also join the Friends of Wildlife community at 15 per cent off the membership fee while receiving a uniquely designed red packet set.
To find out more about Mandai’s Chinese New Year festivities, visit
